/cmlink/sports-1.120059?localLinksEnabled=false
Tue, 3 Mar 2015 17:31:00 +0000http://www.ohio.com/blogs/cleveland-indians/cleveland-indians-1.282227/indians-home-opener-sells-out-in-11-minutes-tuesday-s-lineup-vs-reds-first-spring-training-game-1.571340?localLinksEnabled=false
The Indians on Tuesday announced that the team's Home Opening game against the Detroit Tigers on April 10 has sold out.

And it only took 11 minutes to do so.

It's the 23rd consecutive home opener sellout and 22nd at Progressive Field.

Once the regular season begins, the Indians will play three games to open the season in Houston before returning home for a weekend series with the rival Tigers.

Also on Tuesday: the Indians' first spring training game for 2015, against the Reds, at 3:05 today (SportsTimeOhio).

Zach McAllister, who is vying for the fifth spot in the rotation but is most likely at this time to open the regular season in the bullpen, will take the mound.

Radio: Akron-IMG Sports Network – SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship) and for free at GoZips.com/TuneIn. Steve French (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn (analyst) will have the call beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Injury report:.

Zips: G Noah Robotham (knee).

Streaks: Zips win 1, RedHawks: win 1, but have won 4-of-5.

Series: Akron leads the series 27-26, winning 11 of the last 14 games. The RedHawks one game one of the season 57-52, in overtime at Rhodes Arena on Feb. 21. UA is 9-18 on the road in the series, going 4-6 under head coach Keith Dambrot. Akron fell 65-61 at Millett Hall last season (Feb. 26). – UA athletics.

Storylines: Although the Zips might have revenge on their minds, they will emphasize continuing to win for the sake of tournament seeding. They need Antino Jackson to play against Miami the way he performed against Ohio. They will also need plenty from their twin towers of Forsythe and Johnson.

The Browns are looking for a player from their own back yard to boost the receiving corps.

Brian Hartline, a Canton native, GlenOak High School graduate and Ohio State product, will visit the Browns on Tuesday as a free agent, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting on visits. ProFootballTalk.com first reported the news.

Last week, the Miami Dolphins released Hartline, who was due $5.95 million next season, while clearing salary-cap space. But owner Steve Ross reportedly called him after he was cut because the Dolphins would like to bring him back.

Meanwhile, the Browns hope to foil the plan. Former All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon has been banished from the NFL until at least February 2016, and Hartline could join the Browns as a starter.

Hartline, 28, has spent six seasons with the Dolphins since they drafted him in the fourth round in 2009. He has started 69 of 92 regular-season games, compiling 298 catches for 4,243 yards (14.2 average) and 12 touchdowns.

He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in back-to-back seasons, catching 74 passes for 1,083 yards and one touchdown in 2012 and grabbing 76 passes for 1,016 yards and four touchdowns in 2013. However, his production dipped last season as he tallied 39 receptions for 474 yards and two touchdowns.

The discrepancy in numbers can be explained by how often the Dolphins threw to Hartline. According to ESPN Stats and Information, he was targeted 125 times in 2012, 130 times in 2013 and just 62 times last season.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Hartline isn't the only Northeast Ohio native and former Ohio State standout who has received interest from the Browns this offseason. The agent of Ted Ginn Jr., a Cleveland native and Glenville High School graduate, reportedly took a phone call from the Browns last week.

]]>1.571296Tue, 3 Mar 2015 15:10:00 +0000http://www.ohio.com/sports/nfl/former-ohio-state-coach-jim-tressel-says-keeping-door-closed-is-key-to-continuing-football-dominance-over-michigan-1.571147?localLinksEnabled=false
CANTON: “The Ten Year War” between Ohio State’s Woody Hayes and Michigan’s Bo Schembechler may remain a topic of conversation for the 281 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club who came to hear former OSU coach Jim Tressel speak Monday.

But with Jim Harbaugh taking the reins for the Wolverines against the Buckeyes’ Urban Meyer, they probably aren’t yearning for a repeat of 1969-78, when Barberton’s Schembechler went 5-4-1 against Hayes.

President of Youngstown State University since mid-May, Tressel compiled a record of 9-1 against That Team Up North, whose name he went out of his way not to mention during his 45-minute talk at Tozzi’s on 12th restaurant.

Tressel said he believes Harbaugh, who left the San Francisco 49ers for his alma mater, eventually will restore the rivalry that has seen Ohio State win 12 of the past 14 games (including one OSU victory vacated by NCAA penalty).

“Personally, I think they’re a ways away from being at the level where there’s going to be a Ten Year War. I think they’ve got some work to do to get to that. But if anyone can do it, Jim Harbaugh can. He’ll do a great job.”

Tressel called himself a “Brady Hoke fan,” saying the former Wolverines coach is “a good man and a good person.”

“Timing is important and it probably wasn’t the best time to take the job,” Tressel said of Hoke, who went 1-3 against Ohio State from 2011-14 before being fired in early December.

Ousted in May 2011 during an NCAA investigation into illegal benefits, Tressel left Ohio State with just one loss to the Wolverines. He said he believes that starting with his 25-member class of 2002 — which included Troy Smith, A.J. Hawk, Maurice Clarett and Nick Mangold — the Buckeyes have kept the state’s top players from being lured to Michigan. He said Meyer, who led the Buckeyes to the 2014 national title, must keep it that way.

“I think we might have lost one guy that whole year to Michigan,” Tressel said of 2002. “The door closed and it hasn’t been open.

“How far behind (is Michigan)? It (depends) on how long that door stays closed. That’s the key. Urban will do a great job, they know how to win, they’ve got a great staff. But you’ve still got to keep it closed.”

Tressel also discussed the three biggest events he believes impacted the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. Besides the aforementioned door closing, he cited Ohio State hiring Paul Brown as coach and the major facility upgrades during the tenure of former Director of Athletics Andy Geiger (1994-June 2005).

“If you check the history, many of our high school coaches were not that close to Ohio State. A lot of our really good players would go to Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Michigan or Michigan State,” Tressel said of Brown, who coached at OSU from 1940-43.

“Ohio State didn’t always get its first choice until Paul Brown came. He gave you a chance. To me that was the most important beginning.”

As for Geiger, Tressel mentioned the 2001 refurbishment of Ohio Stadium, which cost nearly $200 million, and the $19.5 million renovation of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, finished in 2007. He also added the construction of Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium for track and field and the building of Bill Davis Stadium for baseball, “stuff that almost created the aura of an Olympic Village.”

Tressel referred to Geiger as “the most unsung person” who “had a lot to do with the transformation” of the OSU-UM rivalry.

“Our dilapidated facilities and things that just looked tired, all he would ever hear was, ‘The old man didn’t need any more than that,’ referring to Woody,” Tressel said. “But Andy Geiger totally discounted that. He said, ‘I don’t think you all know just how great you can be.’ ”

Benson payment received

A source said family infighting surrounding New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has not affected the $11 million donation Benson promised to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and that the first payment has been received. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject.

In late November, Benson pledged two gifts. Hall of Fame president David Baker approached Benson seeking $10 million for the Hall of Fame Village Master Plan. Benson also agreed to contribute $1 million for the Hall of Fame Legends Landing Program, a mixed-used residence that will include room for Hall of Famers and former players.

]]>1.571147Tue, 3 Mar 2015 14:58:47 +0000http://www.ohio.com/sports/high-school/high-school-girls-basketball-hoban-coventry-advance-to-lake-division-ii-district-final-1.571259?localLinksEnabled=false
HARTVILLE: A slow start Monday turned out to be just a minor detour to the objective for Archbishop Hoban.

Marlington hit Hoban with a quick run to open a Division II district semifinal at Lake High School, but the Knights rallied and utilized a strong finish to record a 38-28 victory.

No. 1 seed Hoban outscored Marlington 13-2 in the fourth quarter to overshadow the Dukes’ 8-1 start in the opening moments of the first quarter.

“I am very proud of how we persevered,” Hoban coach Scott Callaghan said. “I thought we played very good defense in the second half and we rebounded the ball effectively. Offensively, we started to attack, which is our identity.”

Hoban will play Coventry in a district final at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lake.

The game was tied 8-8 after one quarter, and Marlington (10-14) held a 19-17 lead at halftime and a 26-25 edge heading into the final quarter.

“We have to start out faster in our next game,” Mitchell said. “Next time we have to run a team and play our game. We can’t play their game.”

Freshman Zoey Peck led the Dukes with 11 points and junior Marlee Peck scored seven points. Both Pecks fouled out in the fourth quarter.

“We missed 20 free throws in the game, and many of those were 1-and-1’s and you can’t miss free throws in tournament play and expect to win,” Callaghan said. “We were very fortunate. A lot of credit goes to Marlington. They were incredibly well disciplined. Terry Rowe is a fabulous high school basketball coach.”

Coventry 48, Kenmore 40

No. 2 seed Coventry brought its band, and it made sure seniors Chloe Baird and Emily Cerepak made the trek Monday night, too, en route to a win over Kenmore in Monday’s late game.

“It feels good to be in this position instead of being out in the first round like we have been previous to this,” said Baird, who had 14 points, five steals, three rebounds and three assists. “It feels great to come out on top and be going for a district championship.”

Coventry led 13-5, 24-13 and 34-25 at the quarter breaks.

“I like that we have come more together this year than we ever have before,” said Cerepak, who totaled 13 points, three steals, three rebounds and three assists.

The Comets (18-6) also got eight points apiece from senior Courtney Basinger and junior Karli Morisak, and six points from freshman Maisha Biddings.

“What we wanted to do was slow it down a little bit because Kenmore likes to run, run, run,” Coventry coach LaMont C. Wilson said. “Hoban is a similar team. They like that high energy — push, push, push and their guards drive to the basket real strong. So we need to slow it down against Hoban the way we did against Kenmore.

“This is a great night. The band has been at nearly everyone of our home games this year. That just reflects the attitude and atmosphere at Coventry now. Remember, before last year we had not had a winning record at Coventry in over a decade in girls basketball. Last year we went 12-10 and this year we have had a lot of success.”

]]>1.571259Tue, 3 Mar 2015 11:46:59 +0000http://www.ohio.com/sports/high-school/girls-basketball-walsh-jesuit-69-canton-mckinley-59-anna-hall-scores-35-points-as-warriors-advance-to-district-final-1.571243?localLinksEnabled=false
To Walsh Jesuit senior Anna Hall, it didn’t matter that Canton McKinley started the game with an early edge.

It didn’t matter to the Warriors that the Bulldogs entered Monday’s Division I Akron district semifinal brimming with confidence after defeating Youngstown East 76-16 in their last contest.

It didn’t matter that these same Bulldogs knocked them out in a district semifinal last season, or that the two teams knew each other well after playing in summer ball.

It didn’t even matter that the No. 10 seed Warriors played as the underdogs to the third-seeded Bulldogs.

All that mattered was keeping calm, and not letting any distractions get to Hall or her teammates.

“It was just our mentality,” Hall said after pouring in 35 points to lead the Warriors to a 69-59 victory at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. “The biggest key was us playing the up-tempo game we knew was going to happen, and the physical game. Everyone played a big part in this game.”

“Both teams knew what to expect,” Walsh coach Pete Zaccari said. “I thought the difference in the game was our senior leadership. We’ve got a bunch of seniors … and I thought they kept their composure. It was their best effort of the year, and I’m proud of them.”

Senior Ty Newkirk, who finished with a game-high 36 points, connected on three 3-pointers to help stake Canton McKinley to a 15-8 lead.

Despite the early disadvantage, the Warriors staged a comeback at the end of the first quarter to take their first lead of the game. Hall’s coast-to-coast layup after a steal on the other end of the court put Walsh up 16-15, and ignited a momentum switch the Warriors would ride the rest of the way.

“I think it was taking what they gave us, and when they gave us an opportunity, we exposed it and we kept our composure,” Zaccari said. “[We] had a lot of confidence going in, and [we] didn’t blink.”

Canton McKinley had ample opportunity to take back the lead in third quarter, but couldn’t do it. Two missed 3-pointers and a traveling violation cost the Bulldogs dearly, as Walsh’s senior Regina Reilly connected on a layup to keep the Warriors in front.

In addition to Hall’s offensive tour de force, three fourth-quarter fouls — two of them on the Canton McKinley bench — contributed to 13 consecutive Walsh Jesuit scoring possessions that ended in free throws.

That capped a fourth-quarter that took the life right out of the Bulldogs’ season.

“They let the refs affect them and we didn’t, so that’s why we had the upper-hand in that scenario,” Hall said.

Walsh Jesuit senior Lilli Piper added 11 points for the Warriors. Other than Newkirk, no other Canton McKinley player contributed double-digit scoring.

The Warriors return to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School at 7 p.m. on Thursday to play New Philadelphia, a 68-55 winner over North Canton Hoover in Monday’s late game, in the district final.

The former Ohio State football coach keeps in touch with Ryan Patton, a graduate assistant on the strength and conditioning staff during Tressel’s OSU tenure. For the fifth race of the 2014 season, Hendrick Motorsports promoted Patton, a Delphos, Ohio, native, to rear-tire carrier on Jimmie Johnson’s team.

On Thursday before last month’s Daytona 500, Tressel connected via FaceTime with Johnson’s team to “see if we could get ’em excited about being champions.” Johnson has won six Sprint Cup titles.

Now president of Youngstown State University, Tressel revealed the NASCAR nugget Monday during his appearance at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club at Tozzi’s on 12th restaurant.

“We got fifth at Daytona; I was a little disappointed,” Tressel said. “I didn’t know anything about NASCAR. We won at Atlanta yesterday. So I feel like I’m part of that team now. They don’t think I am. But I did get to have a little talk with Jimmie and his race team.”

Tressel said he texted congratulations for the victory in Atlanta Sunday night.

“I acted like I knew what was going on,” he said. “They acted like they were fired up, they texted right back.”

Larlham joins CVCA with 11 seasons of coaching experience as an assistant at his alma mater, Walsh Jesuit.

Larlham, 33, worked as the Warriors’ defensive coordinator for the past five seasons and also was the offensive coordinator one season for recently retired coach Gerry Rardin.

“I am thrilled to be taking over as the head football coach at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy,” Larlham said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the entire Royal community to build upon the solid foundation that coach [Ray] Carroscia has established. In all that we do, our football players will exemplify the masculinity of Christ. That will be the vision of our program as we seek to make the greater CVCA community proud to be Royals. I know I speak for my wife and our three boys when I say we can’t wait for Friday nights this fall.”

Larlham, who starred at quarterback for Walsh before graduating in 1999, was at Michigan State for a year and then played for and was a captain at Baldwin Wallace. He also earned a master’s degree from the University of Akron.

“We are so excited to have Dan Larlham lead the football program at CVCA,” CVCA Athletic Director Jon Young said. “As we have gotten to know him during the interview process, we have found Dan to be a man of high character and integrity with a strong desire to integrate his faith in Christ into his program. Dan will continue to build on the foundation built by former coach Ray Carroscia and we are excited to support him in this process.”

Larlham and his wife, Candace, along with their three sons, Gideon (5), Judah (2), and Titus (10 months), are active members of Christ Community Chapel–Stow Campus. Larlham has led community groups, men’s Christian leadership concepts and service trips through Christ Community Chapel.

“Being able to play for him in high school was an awesome experience and I would do it over again if I could,” said Connor Cook, a Walsh graduate and the starting quarterback at Michigan State.

“His passion and love for the game is obvious along with his knowledge of the game and the care he has for his players is what I believe separates him from most people. He is a motivator, and that’s what you want from a head coach — a man that can get his players going and be the fuel behind each individual.

“You guys are very lucky to have him and there is no doubt that he will bring great success to your program.”

Schools are encouraged to report scores by email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com, by fax at 330-996-3629 or by phone at 330-996-3800. Please report scores from home and away games and from wins and losses and include statistics from both teams. Let your athletic director and coach know if you do not see your school’s result.

NOMINATE ATHLETES

Coaches are encouraged to submit nominations for the High School Spotlight by noon on Mondays. Please email bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com with the nominee’s name, school, grade, accomplishments for the week and, most important, a color headshot (a jpeg image).

Toronto coach Dwane Casey gave slumping All-Star and Philadelphia native Kyle Lowry another night off to rest. Even without their leading scorer in the lineup for the second straight game, the Raptors won for the first time since Feb. 20.

The Raptors still hold the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference over the Chicago Bulls.

The Raptors at last built some breathing room late in the third to turn a one-point lead into an eventual double-digit cushion in the fourth. Terrence Ross hit two 3s and Williams hit one over the final 3:44 of the third for an 83-76 lead.

The Raptors stretched the lead to 105-91 with 3:04 left and sent what was left of a dismal crowd to the exits.

With Lowry out, DeRozan gave the Raptors a needed boost. He shot 12 for 24 from the floor, a solid outing for the 6-foot-7 guard after he missed 38 of 52 attempts in his past three games.

The 76ers got the bulk of the production off the bench from two players acquired late last month. The 76ers have burned through the transaction wire this season trying to find someone who can stick around and help with the heavy lifting in the lengthy rebuilding process.

Thomas Robinson had eight points and four rebounds in his first 9 minutes off the bench late in the second quarter.

Chris Paul had 26 points and 14 assists, and Los Angeles allowed only one field goal in the fourth quarter to outlast host Minnesota.

J.J. Redick scored 18 points before getting ejected in the fourth and DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and 18 rebounds, his ninth straight game with at least 15 boards. Glen Davis scored 12 points off the bench to help the Clippers get their seventh win in nine games.

Ricky Rubio had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for the Timberwolves, who were missing starters Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin. Minnesota went 1 for 14 in the fourth quarter.

Gary Neal had 19 points and nine rebounds, but missed a forced 3-pointer with 9.3 seconds to go that would have tied the game.

NOTEBOOK: Jordan on Forbes list

Michael Jordan and two other NBA owners have joined Forbes’ annual list of the world’s billionaires.

Forbes released its list of billionaires on Monday and noted that Jordan’s net worth is estimated at $1 billion, thanks to his well-timed investment in the Charlotte Hornets.

Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, with a net worth of $1.6 billion, and the Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, worth $1.3 billion, also made the list.

The net worth of NBA franchise values increased this past year after the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer for $2 billion.

The 52-year-old Jordan, a Hall of Fame player who won six NBA championships with the Bulls, reached billionaire status last June, according to the magazine. This is his first year on Forbes’ annual list, which typically is released in March.

Bulls’ Butler injured

The Chicago Bulls say guard Jimmy Butler will miss three to six weeks because of a sprained ligament in his left elbow and join the injured Derrick Rose on the sideline.

Mavs starters out

Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons missed Monday night’s game against New Orleans because of injuries, leaving the Dallas Mavericks without two of their frontcourt starters for the second straight game.

Miller recalled

The Detroit Pistons have recalled forward Quincy Miller from the team’s Grand Rapids affiliate in the NBA Development League. Miller signed a 10-day contract Feb. 21 but has yet to appear in a game with the Pistons.

]]>1.571248Tue, 3 Mar 2015 04:24:07 +0000http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/on-the-record-kent-state-men-s-golf-team-is-tied-for-8th-place-after-first-day-of-tournament-1.571246?localLinksEnabled=false
The Kent State University men’s golf team started off their spring season in Lafayette, La., at the 30th annual Louisiana Classics.

The Golden Flashes finished the first day of the tournament tied with Mississippi State at 7-over 583 for eighth place overall as a team.

Ian Holt had Kent State’s best individual day overall, ending Monday at 1-under 143 and tied for 12th place with two others.

]]>1.571246Tue, 3 Mar 2015 04:24:04 +0000http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/quarterback-josh-mccown-has-optimistic-outlook-on-future-with-browns-but-knows-winning-in-cleveland-is-obviously-a-tall-order-1.571141?localLinksEnabled=false
Josh McCown realizes 22 quarterbacks have started for the Browns since 1999 with little success partly because his younger brother, Luke, a fourth-round draft pick in 2004, is one of them.

The older McCown will likely join the long list after striking a three-year, $14 million contract, which includes $6.25 million guaranteed, with the Browns last week.

Luke went 0-4 with the Browns, and Josh isn’t taking the challenge he faces lightly.

“It’s obviously a tall order,” Josh McCown said Monday, speaking from San Diego on a conference call. “My reaction, though, is that that’s the past, and I’ve got to come in on this team, this year, and play good football and do what it takes for this team to win football games. You can’t get caught up in that.

“If you just look at it like that and just said, ‘Well, 22 guys have been here before,’ then, hey, let’s just pack up and go home because it’s pointless. But that’s not my mindset. That’s not my attitude. I want to attack this thing and do everything I can to change that.”

McCown, 35, will be asked to help the Browns by mentoring Johnny Manziel, Connor Shaw and any other quarterback the franchise might acquire this offseason. He’ll also likely be tasked with becoming a short-term starter before passing the torch to one of his pupils.

Veteran Brian Hoyer, the only quarterback with a winning record (10-6) for the Browns during the expansion era, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 10. McCown’s arrival virtually guarantees the team will not re-sign Hoyer.

Still, securing McCown isn’t expected to preclude the Browns, who went 7-9 last season, from continuing to search for starting-caliber quarterbacks this offseason. McCown suggested that he expects other players to join the quarterback room, but he wouldn’t divulge the organization’s plans for the position.

“I’ll leave those conversations between myself and the Browns,” McCown said. “I’m excited about what we’re going to do moving forward and building the team. No matter who joins us in that room or what that room looks like, the goal and my part, at least, is to help us come together and play good football. It starts with me. As the veteran in there right now, it starts with me.”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released McCown on Feb. 11 after he threw 11 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions en route to a 1-10 record as a starter in 2014. A rough year was foreshadowed when offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford left the Bucs in the preseason after undergoing a coronary angioplasty.

“I wasn’t good enough in that situation to pull us out of that,” said McCown, who’s 17-32 as a starter in 12 NFL seasons with a completion percentage of 58.8 to go along with 61 touchdown passes, 59 interceptions and a passer rating of 76.1. “It was an unfortunate thing to happen, losing an offensive coordinator the week before the season, and everybody busted their butt to try to pull together and get ourselves out of that. We just weren’t good enough. I own my part of that, for sure. If anything, it just lights a fire to get that bad taste out of my mouth.”

McCown will need to balance his competitive spirit with being the mentor the Browns sought when they pursued him. Hoyer has repeatedly made it known he considers himself an established starter who deserves a legitimate chance to vie for a starting job. McCown has said he would embrace a backup job.

“You’ve got to lead by example, first and foremost, so you go out and do the things that it takes to get yourself ready to play,” McCown said.

McCown is ready to take Manziel under his wing. The two met briefly last year when Manziel visited the Bucs before the Browns drafted him 22nd overall. McCown has followed Manziel’s career because they’re both from Texas and McCown’s older brother, Randy, played at Texas A&M like Manziel.

He’s also well aware that Manziel checked into a rehabilitation facility Jan. 28 in an effort to halt his hard partying.

“[It’s my responsibility] to serve my team and help my team and any teammate as best I can, Johnny included,” McCown said. “Whatever I can do to help somebody, I’m available and willing to do that.”

Despite the off-field drama suffocating the Browns this offseason, including Manziel’s situation and former All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon being banished from the NFL until at least February 2016, McCown insisted he wasn’t turned off by perceived dysfunction. McCown left his visit to team headquarters last week, he said, impressed by coach Mike Pettine, General Manager Ray Farmer and owner Jimmy Haslam.

“My visit was really, really well thought out as far as the organization went,” McCown said. “I talked to everybody. I got a chance to meet with everybody. It really solidified to me that things are going in the right direction. I think it’s important to understand and to remember that there’s a lot of people going through last year’s situation, from ownership, to the general manager, to the head coach, who were all in their first year of something. I take that into consideration and look the totality of it and said, ‘It seems like they made a really good step in this first year, all things considered.’ ”

Reuniting with new Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and the chance to play behind an offensive line led by eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas and two-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack appealed to McCown as well. In 2007, DeFilippo was the Oakland Raiders’ quarterbacks coach when McCown went 2-7 as a starter for the team with 10 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions.

“The cool thing for me during the visit was just sitting with [DeFilippo] and seeing how much he has evolved and grown as a coach and the ideas and things he likes to do,” McCown said. “I’m really looking forward to it. I’m excited about the opportunities to play in Flip’s system.

“If you look at what this group was able to do last year running the football, it’s certainly encouraging to know we can do that, have that kind of ground game. I think building on that will be key for us.”

No tag

The Browns did not use the franchise or transition tag before Monday’s 4 p.m. deadline, meaning former Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron is set to test free agency in the coming days.

Each NFL team may apply a tag to keep a pending unrestricted free agent from hitting the open market. Free agency will begin at 4 p.m. March 10.

The Browns were not expected to use a tag, but Cameron would have been the most logical choice if they had. Cameron, who made the Pro Bowl in 2013, missed six games last season — five with a concussion and another with an injured shoulder.

The cost to franchise Cameron would have been $8.347 million on a one-year contract. The cost to use the transition tag on him would have been $7.071 million.

Cameron is among six key Browns players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents next week. The others are Hoyer, cornerback Buster Skrine, outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard, nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin and wide receiver Miles Austin.

The Browns used a transition tag last year to keep Mack from getting away. Mack signed a five-year, $42 million offer sheet from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Browns retained him by matching it.

Salary cap set

On Monday, the NFL Players Association announced the salary cap has been set at $143.28 million for the 2015 league year. Spotrac.com estimates the Browns will enter free agency with $50,773,391 of cap space, third-most in the league.

]]>1.571141Tue, 3 Mar 2015 04:24:03 +0000http://www.ohio.com/sports/indians/cleveland-indians-5-things-to-watch-for-during-spring-training-1.571146?localLinksEnabled=false
The games won’t count for quite a while, but baseball is returning. The Indians open their spring training slate on Tuesday against the Reds in Goodyear, Ariz.

It’ll be more than a month before baseball returns for real, when the Indians begin the 2015 regular season in Houston on April 6. Until that date arrives, here are the top five things on the field to watch for whether you’re making the trip to sunny Arizona or waiting out the cold and the snow in Ohio.

1. The progress of several key rehabbing players — The Indians will be closely monitoring the status of a couple of key players and new additions this spring, including second baseman Jason Kipnis, first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher, outfielder Brandon Moss and starting pitcher Gavin Floyd.

Kipnis and Swisher essentially had lost 2014 seasons, as Kipnis suffered an oblique injury early on and was never the same and both of Swisher’s knees failed him. Swisher had surgery on two knees and Kipnis dropped a weight on his left ring finger, which required surgery. Much of the optimism for this year rests with the expected bounce-back seasons of those two. Kipnis could only miss a few spring training games, while Swisher is expected back in mid-March.

Moss and Floyd, the two free-agent additions, are both coming off injuries as well. Moss, who had right hip surgery, was an All-Star in Oakland last year but faltered down the stretch as he tried to play through it. Floyd had Tommy John surgery in 2013 and fractured his elbow last year. The Indians hope Moss (expected to return in mid-March) can add an impact bat in the middle of the order and Floyd can have a productive season as the No. 4 pitcher in the rotation.

A good portion of the Indians’ fortune rests with the health of those four players.

2. The battle for the fifth spot in the rotation — Four spots in the rotation, barring an injury during the spring, are known. The fifth is still up in the air.

House pitched well down the stretch for the Indians and posted a 5-3 record and 3.35 ERA in 2014. He’s only 25 and presents the best option for the Tribe to add a left-handed arm to an all-righty rotation.

Salazar, also 25, struggled to start the year and was sent down to the minors. But he was a different pitcher after being called up again, going 5-4 with a 3.50 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 69⅓ innings after the All-Star break. It wasn’t long ago that Salazar was starting the 2013 American League Wild Card game against Tampa Bay.

McAllister is still a contender for the fifth spot in the rotation but likely is headed to the bullpen. He’s out of options, so if the Indians don’t carry him on the Opening Day 25-man roster, he’d have to clear waivers to be sent down to Triple-A. Indians manager Terry Francona last week said McAllister was hoping to be in the rotation but willing to go to the bullpen.

Tomlin, now 30, started 16 games last year and posted a 4.76 ERA. Chen was signed to a minor-league deal and, like McAllister, also could be an option for the bullpen. Chen is the other lefty option after House. Marcum is also present and working his way back to the big leagues. He’d need a terrific spring to get into the conversation.

3. The 25th spot on the active roster — If McAllister goes to the bullpen, he’d likely be the seventh relief pitcher. The last question would be how the Indians choose to enter the season and the 25-man roster’s makeup.

Some of this will be determined by the health of players like Moss. But with Moss, Michael Brantley and Michael Bourn in the outfield, with Swisher also as an option, the Indians will have to decide between carrying Ryan Raburn and David Murphy or one of them and an eighth relief pitcher. Francona is a fan of that option when the situation is right — he joked last week he’d like to have nine relievers.

General Manager Chris Antonetti called Murphy after the signing of Moss, pointing to the fact that things could shake out in a number of different ways.

Six spots are likely figured out in the bullpen — Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Scott Atchison, Nick Hagadone, Marc Rzepczynski, Kyle Crockett — with the seventh possibility being McAllister. The Indians have some options for an eighth member or seventh depending on the rotation battle.

In addition to multiple minor-league arms who could impress and jump into the mix this spring, Francona could look to C.C. Lee, whom he trusted late in games before, or minor-league signees Anthony Swarzak, Scott Downs and Jeff Manship.

Lee and Swarzak, who has been among the most-used pitchers in baseball the last three years in Minnesota, look to be the favorites there. Downs has a track record as well but, as a lefty trying to crack a bullpen that already has three, he might need some help.

4. The progression of Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer — Corey Kluber won the Cy Young Award last season but the 2015 Indians might go only as far as their two younger arms can take them.

Toward the end of last season, Carrasco found himself in a big way. Over his last 10 starts, he was as unhittable as Kluber, holding opposing batters to an average of .179 and owning a 1.30 ERA. Of course, that pace isn’t sustainable. But something close? The Indians were determined last April to give Carrasco time to figure things out and we saw why, even if it wasn’t until September.

Although the always cerebral Bauer hasn’t yet consistently shown he can be the ace he’s long been billed to be, he has flashed occasional brilliance. If he can just get past his first inning troubles (a 5.54 ERA in 2014), he could be in for a breakthrough. Francona has talked about trying to simplify things this year in the first inning.

The Indians own two young pitchers who have some of the highest ceilings in the league. If those two each take another step forward in 2015, they could join Kluber as one of the American League’s better 1-2-3 punches. If they both take a step back, even repeating 85 wins will be a tall order.

5. The shortstop options, Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor — Indians fans are not-so- patiently waiting for the emergence of Lindor, the club’s top prospect and one of the best in all of baseball. Ramirez seems intent on pushing back that start date.

]]>1.571146Tue, 3 Mar 2015 04:24:00 +0000http://www.ohio.com/sports/nfl/nfl-notebook-baltimore-ravens-cornerback-victor-hampton-gets-arrested-released-from-team-1.571240?localLinksEnabled=false
The Baltimore Ravens waived cornerback Victor Hampton after his weekend arrest in Charlotte on a charge of driving while impaired and speeding.

Ravens spokesman Chad Steele said the team waived Hampton on Monday.

North Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper John Burgin said Hampton was driving 100 mph in a 55-mph zone on Interstate 77 early Saturday. Hampton also was charged with reckless driving and having an open container of alcohol in his car.

Burgin said Hampton had a blood alcohol level of 0.10 percent, above North Carolina’s legal limit of 0.08. Burgin said two passengers were charged with carrying concealed handguns and possessing open alcohol containers.

The Steelers released the 31-year-old Moore on Monday following an inconsistent season in which he struggled to find consistent playing time. Moore, who signed a two-year free agent deal with Pittsburgh last spring, caught just 14 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns. He suffered a hamstring injury late in training camp and never quite meshed with Ben Roethlisberger. Moore was due $1.5 million in 2015.

Pittsburgh declined to place a franchise or transition tag on Worilds, meaning he will become an unrestricted free agent on March 10 if a long-term deal is not reached.

NO CHARGES FILED— Police in California say they will not file charges against Green Bay Packers cornerback Jarrett Bush in connection with a scrum outside a restaurant.

Authorities in Vacaville, California said Monday in a statement that the 30-year-old Bush was cooperative with officers after initially being detained early Sunday morning on a misdemeanor charge of public intoxication after refusing to leave the scene and creating a disturbance. Bush was taken to Solano County Jail, and was released a short time later.

Bush lives in Vacaville. Police say they were responding to a call of a fight outside the downtown restaurant, and that they arrived to find a large gathering.

Bush is due to become a free agent this offseason.

CHIEFS PLACE TAG—As expected, the Chiefs franchise-tagged star outside linebacker Justin Houston on Monday, a league source confirmed to the Star.

The source said Houston has been given a nonexclusive tag, which he is not expected to sign at the moment, though it is unclear when he will decide whether to sign.

The news of the Chiefs’ official designation on Houston was first reported Monday by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

By signing his one-year franchise tender, Houston would be under contract and be required to attend organized team activities and the Chiefs’ offseason program when they begin in April. But by holding off, Houston can also skip training camp and the preseason, return shortly before the regular season and command his full franchise salary.

]]>1.571240Tue, 3 Mar 2015 04:23:32 +0000http://www.ohio.com/sports/mlb/mlb-notebook-los-angeles-dodgers-announce-clayton-kershaw-as-opening-day-starter-1.571239?localLinksEnabled=false
National League MVP and Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw will start for the Los Angeles Dodgers on opening day for the fifth straight season, taking the mound at home April 6 against the San Diego Padres.

“That’s the plan,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Monday.

Mattingly said he spoke to the left-hander four or five days ago about the start. Mattingly joked about the start when spring training began.

“I was preparing for it, but you never know,” Kershaw said. “We’ve got a lot of good pitchers on our staff. It’s obviously a huge honor. ... Now I’ve got a goal and a date: April 6, get ready to go.”

Kershaw won his first MVP award and third Cy Young after going 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA last season.

Don Sutton is the only Dodgers pitcher with more consecutive opening-day starts. He started seven straight, from 1972-1978. Don Drysdale and Fernando Valenzuela each started four straight.

“Any time you get associated with those names, it’s pretty cool,” Kershaw said. “The Dodgers have a huge history of pitchers and to be part of that, to do something they did, is pretty cool.”

The Dodgers are 4-0 with Kershaw as the Opening Day starter. Kershaw is 3-0 with no-decision in 2012 when he came out after three scoreless innings against the Padres at San Diego’s Petco Park because of flu-like symptoms.

WRIGLEY’S RENOVATION—When the Chicago Cubs open their season at Wrigley Field next month, players and fans alike may feel a bit like a homeowner who lives in a house where workers are tearing apart the kitchen.

Members of the media were led on a tour Monday of the bowels of the Major League Baseball’s second-oldest ballpark, which has become a forest of beams and pipes on a dirt floor amid a massive renovation. Many of the steel girders that will support the ballpark’s huge new video board are still lying on the ground beyond the left-field wall because record cold in February made it difficult for steel workers to do their job.

But Cubs officials said the concourse will be open for business and the video board will be working come the team’s opening day game on April 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

To get everything done, Cubs officials will ask the city for permission to work around the clock, said Crane Kenney, the team’s president of business operations. And while the team has said for weeks that the bleachers won’t be open until May, on Monday officials said that only the left field and center field bleachers will open in May. The right-field bleachers won’t be open until June, officials said.

REDS SIGN MAHOLM—Left-hander Paul Maholm is getting a chance to help the Cincinnati Reds piece together their depleted starting rotation.

The Reds signed Maholm to a minor league deal and invited him to training camp to see whether he could be a starter again after spending much of last season in the Dodgers bullpen. Cincinnati traded two starters in the offseason and Homer Bailey isn’t expected to be fully recovered from forearm surgery when the season opens.

Several young pitchers have the inside track on the three openings, but Maholm and Jason Marquis were brought to camp as options. Marquis will start Cincinnati’s spring training opener on Tuesday against Cleveland in Goodyear.

]]>1.571239Tue, 3 Mar 2015 04:23:26 +0000http://www.ohio.com/news/local/some-city-series-athletes-may-be-ruled-ineligible-fines-and-forfeit-of-wins-possible-1.571160?localLinksEnabled=false
City Series high school sports teams could forfeit wins if a state athletic association determines some athletes were ineligible for league play.

“Part of it has to do with the moves. We’re a highly mobile district. There are eligibility requirements if students transfer,” Superintendent David James said on Monday.

The Ohio High School Athletics Association had notified Akron Public Schools, which could be fined, that the number of eligibility forms submitted by transfer students this year seemed low.

Students who transfer, even between schools in the same district, must file these forms with the OHSAA to remain eligible to participate in any high school sport.

“It’s across the district, so they’re looking at everything,” James said, referring to any sports program at each of the seven neighborhood high schools.

James said his staff has provided the OHSAA with transfer records. Now, they’re waiting for a decision. A request for comment left Monday with the OHSAA was not returned.

No Akron teams made a significant run at a state title this year and it is unclear if any teams currently playing in the postseason tournaments could be affected, but City Series results could be altered if teams are forced to forfeit any regular-season games.

The OHSAA investigation coincides with a leadership shake-up in Akron’s athletics program.

In February during his annual State of Akron Public Schools address, James announced that Tom Cousineau, a former linebacker for the Cleveland Browns, had been asked to serve on an advisory group to turn around Akron’s troubled sports program, which has suffered headlines of poorly behaved athletes, including football players fighting on and off the field.

Dan Rambler, director of student support services, has been working with Ron Linger, interim athletics director, to ensure potential missteps are not made.

“I truly don’t believe that anybody did anything with the intent to make someone eligible or ineligible,” Rambler said, explaining that the errors, which could cost the school district $100 apiece, were found mostly in basketball, wrestling and volleyball.

“We had a handful of issues from the winter season, but we’re trying to be incredibly transparent with [OHSAA] on any issue that occurred,” he said.

Rambler explained that, in some cases, parents had missed a signature on the eligibility form, which coaches and staff should have noticed before the paperwork was checked by the athletic director, who works directly with the OHSAA.

“There were missteps in every piece of the puzzle,” Rambler said. “But systematically we didn’t have the steps in place to make sure we were double- and triple-checking everything … We’re putting in multiple layers of checks because clearly this should have never happened.”

]]>1.571160Tue, 3 Mar 2015 04:23:24 +0000http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/men-s-basketball-akron-freshman-antino-jackson-quickly-assuming-important-role-1.571139?localLinksEnabled=false
The Akron men’s basketball team remains in a contentious battle for tournament positioning with two regular season games remaining.

With games still to play against Miami and rival Kent State, the Zips currently are mired in the sixth spot in the Mid-American Conference, and are in need of a minor miracle to leap into one of the top four slots for the upcoming MAC tournament.

And what would that get them? The immediate prize is the ability to take a breath with a first-round bye.

The Zips’ chances to improve their positioning and make a deep run in the tournament could hinge on centers Pat Forsythe and Isaiah Johnson. But, even more so, it probably rests on the play of freshman point guard Antino Jackson, who has been forced into the role as starter and quickly has shown that it’s one he can fill.

Jackson is averaging 10.5 points and three assists per game in four starts, and even casual observers can see a difference in his style of play.

“He’s a roadrunner,” coach Keith Dambrot said after Jackson’s 13-point effort against Ohio on Saturday night. “He’s beep-beep, so he’s going to make more mistakes than some guys, but he’s going to make some plays on top of it.”

Dambrot described Jackson as emotional and energetic — the antithesis of Noah Robotham, his fellow freshman and roommate whose season-ending knee injury forced Jackson’s move into the starting lineup.

“I think he’s a tremendous talent, who hadn’t quite put it together,” Dambrot said. “In fairness, his talent isn’t conducive to a short leash and coming off the bench.”

In the starting role, however, Jackson continues to develop and slow down the pace as necessary, which is a talent sure to be required once the tournament begins.

“It’s a big, big difference,” Jackson said of the way he played before inheriting the starting job. “With more playing time, like, I’m getting used to being out there and I’m getting a feel for the game, so it’s definitely slowing down.”

Jackson said the primary reason for his recent success comes down to the fact that the coaching staff, particularly Dambrot, trusts him now. That confidence in him makes it easier to go out and play ball, he said. It also helps that his teammates feel the same.

“Today just before the game we told him, ‘We’re all behind you. You’re our point guard. We need you to step up,’ ” Johnson said. “His ability to fill that role and step right into it has just amazed me.”

But that trust and confidence hasn’t come easily. Both Robotham and Jackson were viewed as “gets” for the UA program, but ultimately the former’s Mr. Spock-like demeanor beat out Jackson’s speed and feistiness.

“He wasn’t given the keys to the car to start,” Dambrot said. “The other guy was, so that affected his psyche a little bit and he’s different than the other guy.”

There’s little doubt of Jackson’s growth in such a short period. After missing his first four attempts Saturday against Ohio, he came back to connect on 3-pointers on three consecutive UA possessions to help the Zips pull away for a 70-58 victory.

Still, there are aspects of his game that need work. One in particular — finishing at the rim during crunch time — needs to develop quickly, said Dambrot.

“It’s a knack,” Dambrot said of that ability. “Before, Antino couldn’t go 0-for-4 and then make three 3s — boom, boom, boom! This is a process for him, so the next step in the process is at crunch time. You’re going to have to make a play for yourself or your teammate for us to win because he’s the best option we have.”

The Zips will need to capitalize on every opportunity they possess the next two weeks, but Jackson has learned to not look beyond the moment despite knowing the tough road to a conference title.

“We’re not really worried about it,” he said. “We’re going to take it one game at a time. Coach Dambrot said in the past, we didn’t really need it. They had to take a lot of games to play to win the MAC championship, so we’re going to take it one day at a time.”

]]>1.571139Tue, 3 Mar 2015 04:02:38 +0000http://www.ohio.com/sports/kent-state/kent-state-men-s-basketball-team-searching-for-its-defense-heading-into-game-with-bowling-green-1.571159?localLinksEnabled=false
Everything was going right for Kent State, and then it wasn’t.

In two games, the Golden Flashes have gone from Mid-American Conference East leaders to a team that’s reeling after two straight losses and searching for its defense.

The final stretch — the crucial stretch — of the regular season continues Tuesday night against division leader Bowling Green.

“It’s left us,” said KSU coach Rob Senderoff of his team’s defense, especially in the second half. “It’s difficult for us to win when we’re not defending at a high level and late in games in particular. We have to defend.”

A couple weeks ago, after Jimmy Hall was sidelined with mononucleosis and Kris Brewer was suspended for a game for a violation of team rules, KSU responded with a last-minute 61-60 win against Miami that Senderoff called the best in his four years as coach.

Less than three weeks later, at full strength, the Flashes blew a 19-point lead and lost in overtime 86-81 to that same Miami team. Then KSU lost to Buffalo 71-65 at home.

That leads to Tuesday night’s game with Bowling Green (19-8, 11-5), with the Flashes (19-10, 10-6) knowing they need to find defense in multiple facets.

“One’s our transition defense,” Senderoff said. “That’s first and foremost. We’re just not getting back. Two, our ball-screen defense hasn’t been at the level it had been at before. Three, our blocked shots — we’re just not as active as we need to be.”

When asked if there had been a drop in energy, Senderoff said, “That’s a fair word to use.”

The game carries more significance than simply the MAC East race. Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Toledo are all tied in conference play at 11-5. KSU and Buffalo are at 10-6, with Akron and Western Michigan a game back at 9-7.

A Kent State loss to Bowling Green would effectively end the Flashes’ chances of nabbing one of the prized top two seeds, which comes with a bye to the semifinal round. It would also put them behind Buffalo for the No. 4 seed, which earns a bye through the quarterfinals.

In short, Kent State has lost two straight games and is in danger of going from potential top seed to outside of the top four and losing the advantages in the tournament that come with it.

Senderoff said KSU needs to have the same mentality for these final two regular season games that is required to play in the tournament.

“We’re entering March. We have two regular season games left, so we have to play with a sense of urgency,” Senderoff said. “Regardless of what happens tomorrow [against Bowling Green] we have to do that again on Friday [against Akron]. Then after Friday it’s a new season.”

But KSU could position itself much better for that second season. A loss Tuesday and/or Friday could force the Flashes into playing two extra rounds in the tournament.